Koloa Landing Resort Kauai Review: A Family-Friendly Destination in Paradise

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The property’s 350,000-gallon central pool. Photo credit: Koloa Landing Resort.

There’s no shortage of sunshine and waterfront vistas on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, but if you’re looking for a stay that will delight both adults and kids, the Koloa Landing Resort will check those boxes, and then some.

Watch waves crashing in front of the Koloa Landing Resort.
Waves crashing in front of the hotel. Photo credit: Lizzy Briskin.

This expansive Marriott resort on the south coast of Hawaii’s oldest island has:

  • an incredible pool for kids plus a quieter space for the adults
  • kitchenettes
  • great on-site dining options
  • a fantastic location for beach days, shopping, and exploring the island’s natural beauty.

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The four bedroom penthouse at Koloa Landing Resort.
Inside a four-bedroom penthouse suite at Koloa Landing. Photo credit: Koloa Landing Resort

The Koloa Landing Guest Rooms

The hotel offers a range of room sizes, from studios to four-bedroom villas. Every room includes a kitchenette with a mini fridge, hot plate, and coffee maker, and you can have the room stocked with groceries before you arrive or during your stay.

Each room also has a furnished balcony overlooking one of the property’s three pools or towards the ocean.

The Pools

The centerpiece of this resort is the ginormous 350,000-gallon main pool, which USA Today has named the best pool in America for four years straight. It’s easy to see why.

This massive swimming hole includes a waterslide, swim-through waterfalls, an infinity edge, and more than one whirlpool. I enjoyed some time in a poolside cabana and saw first-hand how this pool can occupy kids of all ages for hours and hours.

If things get too noisy at the main pool, however, adults can escape to the serene Tranquility Pool. Though smaller and more shallow–you won’t be diving head-first here–it fully lives up to its name, so you can relax with a book and enjoy the sounds of the nearby waves.

Waterfalls off the hotel lobby of Koloa Landing Resort.
Waterfalls off the hotel lobby. Photo credit: Koloa Landing Resort.

More Hotel Amenities

The hotel has a 24/7 fitness center equipped with cardio machines and free weights. It’s blessedly air-conditioned and spacious. After a workout, you can enjoy the on-site spa, which offers massages, facials, and body treatments.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Book your treatment a day or two in advance, as the spa tends to book quickly.

The other on-site amenities, including a soccer field, volleyball court, putting green, and regular s’mores nights, make Koloa Landing a great destination for families.

If you’re looking to book during an especially fun time of year, the annual Kauai Poke Fest is held at the property in June and draws a hungry crowd of locals and visitors, plus some impressive chefs to compete.

Koloa Landing Resort has a lot of stunning flora.
The property is full of stunning flora. Photo credit: Lizzy Briskin

Things to Do Off Property

If you want to get off property during your stay at Koloa Landing, the hotel has a complimentary shuttle within a 15-minute drive. That might not sound like much, but on a small island like Kauai, you can get pretty far in 15 minutes.

Several shopping areas and towns nearby are worth exploring if you’re looking for a local boutique, a great cup of Hawaiian coffee, or a refreshing smoothie. The stunning Poipu beach is within walking distance of the hotel and attracts surfers, sunbathers, and wave-chasers of all ages.

Kauai, which is known as the Garden Isle for its lush flora, also offers extensive hiking and natural beauty. Rent a car and travel to the north side of the island for a calmer beach experience in Hanalei Bay. Or book a permit to explore the Jurassic-like terrain of the lush Na Pali Coast.

If you’re interested in farm-to-table dining and regenerative agriculture, a farm tour and dinner at Common Ground is a true treat.

Enjoy delicious tropical pancakes for breakfast at Koloa Landing Resort
Memorable tropical pancakes at breakfast. Photo credit: Lizzy Briskin.

Dining Options at Koloa Landing

Though the hotel doesn’t have a long list of dining options, the food on-property is quite good.

The main restaurant, the Holoholo Grill, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a menu of local favorites. James Beard award-winning chef Sam Choy is affiliated with the restaurant, and I was impressed by the quality of the ingredients and dishes.

Enjoy fresh fruits at the Koloa Landing Resort.
The freshest Hawaiian fruit at the Holoholo Grill. Photo credit: Lizzy Briskin.

For breakfast, the banana macadamia nut pancakes are a can’t-miss, and the poke bowl is a perfect poolside lunch. The restaurant also has a full-service bar and offers take-out, which is essential because seating is limited and wait times can get lengthy at peak hours.

The Gourmet Marketplace on-site offers snacks and coffee.

There are also great dining options in the hotel’s immediate vicinity. The Shops at Kukuiula, an outdoor shopping center within walking distance of the resort, has several casual and more formal dining options.

Catch sunset views at the Koloa Landing Resort
A sunset at Koloa Landing Resort. Photo credit: Lizzy Briskin.

Getting to Koloa Landing

The Koloa Landing Resort is located in the Poipu region of Kauai, on the southernmost coast. It’s a 20- to 30-minute drive from the Lihue airport.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Arrange transportation before you arrive, as taxis and rideshare options are very limited in Kauai.

Lizzy Briskin is a New York City-based travel, food, wellness, and lifestyle writer for publications including Hotels Above Par, Bon Appetit, Self, Shape, People, and Delish. She’s the former food editor at Real Simple and Food Network Magazines and has a culinary degree from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. She’s lived in China and Malaysia and has visited 37 countries and 29 US states–and counting! Aside from writing, eating, and traveling, she’s an avid reader and competitive runner currently training for her 6th marathon.
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